Motorized remote controlled reclining child safety car seat

ABSTRACT

A motor and reversible drive move a child safety seat between a sitting and reclining position on a base secured by a vehicle safety belt. A drive shaft and gear system, double action winch and cord system, hydraulic drive, screw drive, or other drive system positioned within an enclosed base move the safety seat reversibly. A remote control operable by the driver of the vehicle controls the seat motor. An interconnecting system between the safety seat and the base maintains the safety seat in proximity with the vehicle seat back. The electric motor may be battery powered or plugged into the cigarette lighter of the vehicle.

REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No.10/074,295 filed Feb. 11, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to child safety car seats and inparticular to a child safety car seat that has a remote controledmotorized reclining capability and maintains proximity with the vehicleseat back for safety.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] While riding in cars, children normally wish to remain upright ina seated position to look around or play. But children often fall asleepwhile riding. In the safety child car seats, now required by law, achild falling asleep in a sitting position usually winds up with his orher head bent over in an uncomfortable position with the child's neckcontorted downward and sideways and the child's head often falls forwardin a potentially choking position unless the seat is reclined.

[0006] Some prior art child car seats are capable of reclining to allowthe child to be in a comfortable position while sleeping and still beprotected in the child car safety seat. These reclining seats provide avariety of means for raising or lowering the seat. All of them requirespecial attention to lower or raise the seat.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,877, issued Jun. 3, 1980 to Ettridge providesa children's reclining car seat operably with a mechanical lever armlocated on the side of the chair in a position that would be verydifficult to reach from the front seat of the vehicle to adjust theseat.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,799, issued Nov. 20, 2001 to Greger et al.,shows an adjustable car seat that requires turning a knob to adjust theseat. While the knob is positioned in the front of the seat, which maybe easy to access, it requires considerable turning to adjust the seatthrough a full range of motion, which would be very distracting to aperson trying to drive and adjust the seat at the same time.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,762, issued Apr. 6, 1999 to Yoshida, presentsa child seat for a vehicle capable of reclining to a desired angle witha chair portion having a pair of convex curved sliding surfaces on eachside of the bottom of the seat and a base having a pair of matingconcave curved sliding surfaces on each side of the top of the base. Alock-releasing lever controls pins positioned in openings to lock theseat in place relative to the base. The operation is something thatshould not be performed while driving.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,142, issued Nov. 27, 2001 to Yoshida et al.,claims a reclining child car seat with an inclination indicator foradjusting the reclining angle. A convex seat bottom slides on a pair ofraised concave tracks protruding from the top sides of the base. Pinsthrough a high back support are inserted into a series of openings onthe seat to secure it in place. This requires stopping the car andworking on the seat directly to adjust the reclining angle.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,613, issued Oct. 8, 1985 to Martel et al.,describes a car seat carrier with a rigid molded seat that pivots on apair of supports elevated above a base. Spring loaded control knobscontrol the pivoting angle. Considerable effort and attention must bepaid to the knobs to adjust the reclining angle of the seat.

[0012] Either the parent must stop the vehicle to lower or raise thechild safety seat or risk getting into an accident to attempt to raiseor lower the seat while driving. It is usually very difficult to adjusta child car seat located in the back seat of the car or adjacent seat ofthe vehicle from the driver's seat. To do so while driving is verydangerous.

[0013] A parent can see the child in the rear view mirror or looking tothe side to determine if the child is falling asleep or waking up,thereby requiring an adjustment of the child safety seat.

[0014] What is needed is a remote control with a motorized means forraising and lowering the child safety seat back and forth between anupright seating position and a lowered reclining position for sleeping.

[0015] One U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,960, issued Dec. 1, 1987 to Launesdescribes a reclinable children's car seat having a motor and driveshaft with pinions and a curved rack of the moving seat riding on thedrive shaft so that the weight of the seat and the child has a tendencyto stop the turning of the drive shaft. All the moving parts are exposedso that a child is able to get fingers or blankets or toys stuck in themoving works of the seat. A manual override handle extends from one endof the drive shaft so that it would be rotating when the motor is inoperation, presenting another hazard. While this invention makes it easyto adjust the angle of the seat, it presents many hazards to the childand has features which are not likely to function efficiently.

[0016] To prevent whiplash and other injury to the child in the safetyseat in case of a rear-end collision, the safety seat back shouldmaintain close proximity with the vehicle seat back to minimize movementin case of a rear-end collision.

[0017] So, a truly safe child safety seat with all moving parts enclosedand a fully operational remote control and a motor drive system thatrotates freely without undue weight bearing down it would be desirable,as well as a reclining child safety seat which maintains close proximitywith the vehicle seat back. The present invention answers that need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] An object of the present invention is to provide a child carsafety seat which can automatically be adjusted to any position back andforth between an upright sitting position and a reclining sleepingposition by employing an electric motor with a gear system, pulleysystem, winch and cord system, hydraulic system, screw-drive system, orother means for raising and lowering the seat to any desired anglebetween the fully upright position and the fully reclined position.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a remotecontrol for automatically and remotely controlling the position of thechild car safety seat to adjust it between an upright position and areclined position.

[0020] One more object of the present invention is to provide amotorized reclining child safety seat which maintains close proximitywith the vehicle seat back to prevent in jury to the child in case of arear-end collision.

[0021] A further object of the present invention is to provide amotorized reclining child safety seat with all of the moving partssafely housed in a molded plastic shell enclosure not accessible to thechild to prevent injury to the child and clogging of the moving works byany blankets, clothing, or toys in the possession of the child.

[0022] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide amotorized child safety seat with the drive mechanism separate from thesupporting weight-bearing arched track on which the chair reclines. Ballbearings or a low friction coating, such as Teflon enables easy movementof the seat in the base. A pair of horizontal sprockets enclosed in thebase engage an arched groove in a vertical surface of the seat, or adouble-action winch or windlass with a wrapped cord connected to pins onthe seat move the seat to a desired inclination, wherein the drivingsprockets, related gears and drive shafts or related pulleys and drivebelts or alternate winches and cords do not support the weight of theseat to create an efficiently running system with no constriction of themotor functioning.

[0023] One more object of the present invention is to provide a childsafety seat with a motor means which can run off of the car electricalsystem by plugging it into the cigarette lighter, by a rechargeablebattery pack or other means.

[0024] A still further object of the present invention is to provide ameans to lock the seat in a secure position either by the stationarysprockets in the arched groove of the seat or by a solenoid pin from thebase engaged in one of a series of openings in the seat or other lockingmeans.

[0025] An additional object of the present invention is to provide achild car safety seat which is attachable to the car seat by means ofthe car seat belts.

[0026] In brief, a child car safety seat has an upper seat portion whichmoves relative to the base of the seat in a secure arched track whilemaintaining close proximity with the vehicle seat back, preferably onroller bearings or fabricated of Teflon or other low friction surfacesor on low friction pivot points, between an upright sitting position anda reclined sleeping position and any desired position inbetween.

[0027] Any type of motor may be used including an electric motor with arechargeable battery pack and/or connected to the car's electricalsystem, preferably with a cigarette lighter plug.

[0028] In one embodiment, the motor turns a pair of sprockets by a driveshaft and gear system or by a belt system with pulleys other means toengage the sprocket teeth in an arched groove on the upper seat portion,the arched groove having spaced ridges and openings mating with theteeth of the sprocket to move the upper portion of the seat. Thesprocket engaging the ends of the arched groove will stop the movementof the seat at desired limits of movement wherein the seat is either inthe upright sitting position or reclined sleeping position. The sprocketteeth act as a locking means to secure the seat an a stationary positionwhen the motor is off.

[0029] In an alternate embodiment, the motor turns a pair ofdouble-action winches or windlasses with a high friction cord or beltwound around the winch or windlass connected to an upper pin and a lowerpin on the seat. The winch or windlass and cord and pins on each side ofthe seat are enclosed within a walled portion of the seat bottom. Stopson the base engage the seat walls to stop the movement of the seat atdesired limits of movement wherein the seat is either in the uprightsitting position or reclined sleeping position. A solenoid protrudingfrom the base, preferably out of the motor protrudes into one of aseries of holes in the seat to lock the seat in place when the motor isoff. When the motor is activated the solenoid retracts to permit freemovement of the seat.

[0030] In another embodiment using a pivotable seat, a motor pivotallyconnected to the either the base or the seat and screw drive or ahydraulic telescoping driver or other means pivotally connected to theother component reversibly pivots the seat from an upright sittingposition to a reclined sleeping position.

[0031] Configuring the arch of incline in the arched track version toapproximate a 45 degree or less angle maintains the safety seat in closeproximity with the vehicle seat back during all positions of incliningand reclining. Alternately, a segmented base on the seat riding in anarched track allows the safety seat bottom to move forward while thesafety seat back maintains a position always in close proximity to thevehicle seat back while reclining.

[0032] In a pivotable seat or arched track seat not configured formaintaining contact with the vehicle seat back, a spring-loaded arm androller from the safety seat maintains contact with the vehicle seat backin all positions.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, a high pivot point on each side of thebase pivotally supports a pendulum arm which hangs down to connect to apivot point on the side of the safety seat, so that when the safetyseat, initially in close proximity with the vehicle seat back, maintainsclose proximity with the vehicle seat back as the safety seat reclinesand then pivots forward. A series of pivot arms may be used on bothsides of the child safety seat.

[0034] A hand-held or other remote control switch is operated by thedriver or others in the car to automatically activate the motor andadjust the child car safety seat to the desired position for the comfortof the child.

[0035] The bottom portion of the child car safety seat encloses themotor and drive systems and is also provided with a pair of openings,one on each side of the back edge of the bottom portion to admit the carseat belt therethrough and secure the child car safety seat in the backseat of the car.

[0036] An advantage of the present invention is that the driver of avehicle carrying one or more young children in child safety seats, whichare required to be positioned on the back seat of the vehicle, canobserve the child or children in the rear view mirror and automaticallycontrol the motorized reclining mechanism of the child seat(s) with aremote control without having to stop the vehicle or risk having anaccident by turning around to adjust the child safety seat whiledriving.

[0037] One more advantage of the present invention is that it provides areclining safety seat which maintains close proximity with the vehicleseat for the entire range of reclining and inclining positions inaccordance with state laws.

[0038] Another advantage of the present invention is that it safelyconceals all of the moving parts within the housing of the base and seatso that the child will never get anything stuck in the moving works ofthe motorized reclinable seat.

[0039] A further advantage of the present invention is that it providesan efficient non-weight bearing motor drive system to get optimumperformance from the motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] These and other details of my invention will be described inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only byway of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in whichdrawings:

[0041]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the invention taken through1-1 of FIG. 3 or 4 showing the arched groove of the seat and theengaging sprocket with the seat in the extreme upright position;

[0042]FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the invention taken through1-1 of FIG. 3 or 4 showing the arched groove of the seat and theengaging sprocket with the seat in the extreme upright position andshowing a series of segmented slats on the safety seat bottom movingwithin an arched slot in the base;

[0043]FIG. 1B is a perspective partial view of the ends of the series ofslats of the safety seat riding in an arched groove in the base;

[0044]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the invention taken through1-1 of FIG. 3 or 4 showing the arched groove of the seat and theengaging sprocket with the seat in the extreme reclined position;

[0045]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the invention takentransversely through the center of the bottom portion of the seatshowing the motor and gear and drive shaft systems engaging thesprockets, all completely enclosed within the base, with only thecigarette lighter plug and remote control extending out of the base;

[0046]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the invention takentransversely through the center of the bottom portion of the seatshowing the motor and belt and pulley systems engaging the sprockets,all completely enclosed within the base, with only the cigarette lighterplug and remote control extending out of the base;

[0047]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the invention taken through5-5 of FIG. 6 showing the upper and lower pins of the seat and theconnecting cords to a double-action winch or windlass with the seat inthe extreme upright position;

[0048]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the invention takentransversely through the center of the bottom portion of the seat ofFIG. 5 showing the motor and connected double action winch or windlassand cord attached to the lower pin of the seat, with the motor enclosedwithin the base and the winch and cord and pins enclosed within anenclosed space between the seat and the base, with the cigarette lighterplug and remote control extending out of the base;

[0049]FIG. 7 is a side elevational view showing a preferred embodimentof the invention utilizing a pendulum pivot system to move the seatforward while pivoting in a reclining movement to maintain the safetyseat against the vehicle seat back, showing the safety seat in theupright sitting position;

[0050]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment ofFIG. 7 showing the safety seat in the reclined sleeping position;

[0051]FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of apivotal safety seat having a single pivot on each side and aspring-loaded arm and roller from the safety seat maintaining contactwith the vehicle seat back for all positions, showing the safety seat inthe upright sitting position;

[0052]FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the pivotal safety seat ofFIG. 9 showing the safety seat in the reclined sleeping position;

[0053]FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of apivotal safety seat having a high arched rear wall on the base so thatthe safety seat maintains contact with the base rear wall and the basemaintains contact with the vehicle seat back throughout the full rangeof motion of reclining and inclining, showing the safety seat in theupright sitting position;

[0054]FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the pivotal safety seat ofFIG. 11 showing the safety seat in the upright sitting position;

[0055]FIG. 13 is a side elevational view showing a preferred embodimentof the invention utilizing a pendulum pivot system to move the seatforward while pivoting in a reclining movement to maintain the safetyseat against the vehicle seat back, showing the safety seat in theupright sitting position and having an underseat mounted screw-drivenmoving mechanism with the safety seat in the upright position;

[0056]FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention of FIG. 13 with the safety seat in the reclined position.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0057] In FIGS. 1-14 a motorized reclining child safety seat for avehicle comprises a seat 20 and 20A and a base 30, 30A and 30B, bothformed of molded plastic with hollow interior enclosed spaces. Thesafety seat 20 has an upper portion with a supporting surface 21 andside panels 22 capable of receiving and supporting a child therein and abase 30 having a pair of openings 31 as a means for receiving a vehiclesafety belt 40 secured thereto to secure the child safety seat to thevehicle seat. The seat is preferably provided with its own safety belt50 securing means with secure latching means 51 and 52 to secure thechild in the moving seat. This could be a harness or other type ofsystem and is not affected by movement of the seat on the base.

[0058] In each of the embodiments a means is provided forinterconnecting the child safety seat 20 and 20A and the base 30, 30A,and 30B so the child safety seat is capable of maintaining closeproximity with a seat back 100 in all positions of reclining andinclining.

[0059] In FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 the arch of the seat and base and the heightof the seat back are so configured, with an arch angle of 45° or less,that the safety seat 20 maintains close proximity with the vehicle seatback 100 throughout all the positions from fully upright for seating, asin FIGS. 1 and 5, to a fully reclined position for sleeping, as in FIG.2.

[0060] In FIGS. 1A and 1B, at least a portion of the safety seat bottomcomprises a series of slats 120 transversely across the width of thesafety seat bottom and riding in an arched groove 121 in each of theside walls of the base 30. The slats 120 are pivotable creating arelatively fluid safety seat support and allowing the safety seat bottomto move forward as the safety seat back reclines enabling the safetyseat back 10 to maintain close proximity with the vehicle seat back 100as the safety seat reclines and inclines as indicated by the doublearrow 121.

[0061] In FIGS. 1-6, the safety seat 20 further comprises a lowerportion, consisting of a pair of downwardly protruding arched bottomportions 29, one on each of two sides, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each ofthe arched bottom portions has one half of an arched track means, suchas an arched trough 23, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The arch is configuredalong with the size of the safety seat to maintain the safety seat 20 incontact with the vehicle seat back 100.

[0062] The upper portion of the base 30 comprises a mating arched trackmeans along a top edge of each of two sides, such as a mating archedridge 39, capable of slidably receiving and engaging the arched trackmeans of the safety seat, the base supporting the full weight of thesafety seat and its occupant. The mating arched track members allow thesafety seat 20 to rest on and allow relative movement between the safetyseat 20 and the base 30 enabling the safety seat to move through a fullrange of positions between a fully upright sitting position, as seen inFIG. 1, and a fully reclined sleeping position, as seen in FIG. 2.Preferably the full range of positions would be possible between the twoextremes.

[0063] A low friction contact means between the safety seat and the basefacilitates movement therebetween and require less power from the motor.In FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 the low friction means comprises a series of ballbearings 17 between the pair of downwardly protruding arched bottomportions 23 of the safety seat 20 and the mating pair of arched trackmeans 39 on the base 30.

[0064] Alternately, the low friction contact means between the safetyseat 20 and the base 30 comprises a coating of low friction surfacingmaterial on the pair of downwardly protruding arched bottom portions 23of the safety seat 20 and on the mating pair of arched track means 39 onthe base 30.

[0065] The base 30 is provided with an enclosed space 34 having ahorizontal slit 19 at each side of the enclosed space 30. The enclosedspace 34 encloses the motor 35 centrally positioned therein, and thereversible drive means comprises a pair of sprocket drive means 32 or 42extending horizontally from the motor outwardly to two sides of theenclosed space and a pair of sprockets 36 interacting with the sprocketdrive means and positioned horizontally with an edge of the sprocketprotruding out of the enclosed space 34 through the narrow horizontalslit 19 in the enclosed space and the tracking means comprises an archedgroove 25 in a vertical surface 29, as seen in FIG. 2, extendingdownwardly from the safety seat 20, the arched groove receiving andinteracting with the edge of the sprocket protruding out of the enclosedspace.

[0066] The motor 35 and reversible drive means are preferably housed inthe base 30 within the enclosed chamber 34, although they could behoused in the safety seat 20 by enlarging the enclosed interior of theseat.

[0067] The reversible drive means comprises at least one sprocket 36(preferably a pair of sprockets) and sprocket drive means connected tothe motor 35, all housed within an enclosed space 34 in the base 30, theat least one sprocket 36 positioned horizontally. In FIG. 3, thesprocket drive means comprises a drive shaft 32 and gear system 33linking the motor 35 with the sprocket 36 on each side of the motor 35.In FIG. 4, the sprocket drive means comprises a drive belt 42 and pulleysystem 43 linking the motor with the sprocket 36 on each side of themotor 35.

[0068] The sprockets 36 each have a series of evenly spaced teeth aroundthe circumference of the sprocket positioned horizontally, which teethprotrude horizontally through narrow horizontal slits 19. A trackingmeans comprises a mating arched groove 25 positioned in a verticalsurface 29 of the arched bottom portions of the safety seat 20. Thegrooves 25 each have a series of ridges and openings for receiving andmating with the teeth of the sprocket 36 so that rotation of thesprockets cause movement of the safety seat relative to the base.Because the sprockets 36 are horizontal and engage the mating archedgrooves 25 positioned on the sides of vertical elements of the safetyseat, there is no weight placed on the sprockets, so the motor andsprocket drive means runs smoothly without having to support the weightof the chair 20. The grooves 25 receive the teeth of the sprockets 36 sothat no moving parts protrude. The sprockets 36 comprise a locking meansfor securing the safety seat 20 in a desired stationary position whenthe motor 35 is not in operation.

[0069] In FIGS. 5 and 6, an alternate embodiment of the reversible drivemeans comprises at least one, preferably two with one adjacent to eachside of the safety seat, double-action winch 70 or windlass connected bya winch drive shaft 74 to the motor 35 and a high friction cord means71, such as a rubberized cord or belt having two ends. The cord means 71is wound at least once around the winch 70 and has one end of the cordmeans attached to a top pin 73 on the seat 20 spaced apart from thewinch 70 in one direction and the other end of the cord means 71attached to a bottom pin 72 on the seat 20 spaced apart from the winchin an opposite direction, so that having the motor 35 turn the winch inone direction pulls one of the pins toward the winch, moving the safetyseat in one direction, and having the motor turn the winch in theopposite direction pulls the other one of the pins toward the winchmoving the safety seat in an opposite direction to move the safety seatbetween the upright sitting position, as seen in FIG. 5 and the reclinedsleeping position similar to the position of the safety seat in FIG. 2.

[0070] The base 30 is provided with an enclosed space 34 housing asingle motor 35 and the enclosed space further comprises an opening ateach side to admit an end of the winch drive shaft 74 therethrough. Thesafety seat 20 further comprises on each side a downwardly protrudingvertical surface 29, each having two protruding perpendicular end walls75 and 76 protruding therefrom extending from the safety seat to thebase, thereby forming a second and third enclosed space on each side ofthe base, each housing a winch 70 attached to an end of the winch driveshaft 74 extending out from the motor 35, a cord means 71, and two pins72 and 73 attached to the vertical surface 29 of the safety seat 20. Apair of stops 78 and 77 each protrude from the base 30 adjacent to afront and back end of the base, respectively, on each side of the base,each of the stops being capable of contacting one of the end walls 76and 75, respectively, and stopping the movement of the safety seat toset the desired limits of movement.

[0071] In FIG. 6, the locking means for securing the safety seat in adesired stationary position comprises a solenoid 78 in the base 30,preferably attached to the motor 35, positioned opposite a series ofholes 79 in the seat. The solenoid 78 being capable of receding duringoperation of the motor 35 to permit movement of the safety seat 20 andbeing capable of protruding into one of the series of holes 79 in theseat to lock the seat in place when the motor is not in operation.

[0072] A control means for the motor is preferably a remote control 38operable from any location in the vehicle, including operation by thedriver. The remote control 38 may be wired to the motor 35 or the remotecontrol 38A may transmit wireless signals to control the motor 35.

[0073] The motor 35 may be powered by the vehicle electrical systemthrough a cigarette lighter plug 37 or alternately be wired to thevehicle electrical system or powered by a battery 60 wired to the motor35. The motor 35 may alternately be housed within the safety seat 20 andthe drive means connect to the base 30.

[0074] In FIGS. 7-14 a preferred embodiment provides a motorizedreclining pivotable child safety seat for a vehicle, which child safetyseat maintains close proximity with the vehicle seat back 100 in allpositions.

[0075] The motorized reclining pivotable child safety seat comprises asafety seat 20A capable of reclining by pivoting and capable ofsupporting a child therein, a base 30A and 30B capable of supporting theseat and allowing relative motion therebetween, and a motorized drivemeans, such as a motor 84 and telescoping hydraulic reversible drive 86,within the enclosed housing of the base 30A.

[0076] While the motor is shown attached to the base 30A and 30B in eachcase and attached to the back of the safety seat in FIGS. 7-12, themotor could in every case be attached to the safety seat 20A and couldbe positioned either at the back of the safety seat as in FIGS. 7-12 orto the front of the safety seat 20A is in FIGS. 13 and 14.

[0077] The motorized drive means 84 and 86 interconnects the seat 20Aand the base by a motor pivot 85 connecting the motor 84 to the base 30Aand a drive pivot 87 connecting the drive 86 to the seat 20A, and iscapable of moving the seat through a range of positions from an uprightsitting position, as in FIG. 7, to a reclined sleeping position, as inFIG. 8.

[0078] The motor 84 and telescoping drive 86 is shown interconnected tothe back of the seat, but could just as well interconnect to the frontof the seat, as in FIGS. 13 and 14, and could have various reversibledrive means, such as the alternate motor 114 connected by a pivot 115 tothe base and screw drive 113 with moving arm 112 connected by a pivot111 to the safety seat bottom to pivot the safety seat between anupright position, as seen in FIG. 13, and a reclined position, as seenin FIG. 14. Again, the motor could be mounted either on the base or thesafety seat and to the seat portion or the back portion of the safetyseat.

[0079] A locking means for securing the seat in a desired stationaryposition could comprise a secure immovable stop position on the driveand motor or could comprise a solenoid 78 and mating holes 79, one inthe base and the other in the safety seat, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0080] A remote control means for the motor 84 may be a wire connectedremote control 38 or a wireless remote control 38A held and operated bythe driver of the vehicle or another passenger.

[0081] The seat 20A and the base 30A are formed as a mating pair ofmolded hollow shells and the motorized drive means 84 is housed withinthe hollow shells.

[0082] In FIGS. 7, 8, 13 and 14 the means for interconnecting the childsafety seat 20A and the base 30A comprises a seat pivot point 83 on eachside of the safety seat 20A and a higher base pivot point 81 on eachside of the base 30A with a pendulum arm 82 hanging by a pivot meansfrom the base pivot point 81 and pivotally connected to the seat pivotpoint 83 at the bottom of the pendulum 82, so that the safety seat 20Amoves forward as it pivots to the reclining position, as in FIGS. 8 and14, maintaining close proximity with the vehicle seat back 100.

[0083] In FIGS. 9 and 10, the means for interconnecting the child safetyseat and the base comprises a seat pivot point 83 on each side of theseat and a mating base pivot point 83 on each side of the base wherein aspring-loaded arm 92 or panel with a pivotable spring connector 91 tothe seat and a roller 90 from the back of the seat maintains contact orclose proximity with the vehicle seat back 100 from the fully uprightsitting position of FIG. 9 to the fully reclined sleeping position ofFIG. 10.

[0084] In FIGS. 11 and 12 the means for interconnecting the child safetyseat and the base comprises a seat pivot point 83 on each side of theseat and a mating base pivot point 83 on each side of the base whereinthe base 30B maintains contact or close proximity with the vehicle seatback 100 and the safety seat 20A is configured so that the back of theseat 10 maintains close proximity with an arched rear wall 95 of thebase 30B for all positions between the fully upright seating positionshown in FIG. 11 and the fully reclined sleeping position shown in FIG.12.

[0085] In operation the driver of the vehicle can observe, via the rearview mirror, the child in the motorized child safety seat and operatethe motor 35, 84 and 84A with the remote control 38 and 38A and adjustthe position of the child in the motorized child safety seat as neededwithout stopping the car or having to reach back to the safety seat toadjust it. Or others in the vehicle can operate the remote control. Thechild has no access to the moving parts contained within the base.

[0086] It is understood that the preceding description is given merelyby way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and thatvarious modifications may be made thereto without departing from thespirit of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A motorized reclining child safety seat for avehicle, which child safety seat maintains close proximity with thevehicle seat back in all positions, the child safety seat comprising: asafety seat capable of reclining and capable of supporting a childtherein; a base capable of supporting the safety seat and allowingrelative motion therebetween; a motorized drive means within an enclosedhousing, the motorized drive means interconnecting the safety seat andthe base and capable of moving the safety seat through a range ofpositions from an upright sitting position to a reclined sleepingposition; a means for interconnecting the child safety seat and the baseso the child safety seat is capable of maintaining close proximity witha seat back in all positions of reclining and inclining; a locking meansfor securing the seat in a desired stationary position; a remote controlmeans for the motor.
 2. The motorized reclining child safety seat ofclaim 1 wherein the safety seat and the base are formed as a mating pairof molded hollow shells and the motorized drive means is housed withinthe hollow shells.
 3. The motorized reclining child safety seat of claim2 wherein the motorized drive means comprises at least one motor and atleast one reversible drive means connected to the motor.
 4. Themotorized reclining child safety seat of claim 3 wherein the reversibledrive means comprises at least one sprocket and sprocket drive meanshoused in one of the hollow shells, the at least one sprocket having aseries of spaced teeth around its perimeter, and the other one of themating pair of hollow shells is provided with at least one groove havinga series of ridges and openings receiving and mating with the teeth ofthe at least one sprocket so that rotation of the at least one sprocketcauses movement of the safety seat relative to the base.
 5. Themotorized reclining child safety seat of claim 4 wherein the at leastone sprocket is rigid when the at least one motor is off and the atleast one sprocket comprises the locking means for securing the safetyseat in a desired stationary position when the motor is not inoperation.
 6. The motorized reclining child safety seat of claim 4wherein the sprocket drive means comprises a drive shaft and gear systemlinking the at least one motor with the at least one sprocket.
 7. Themotorized reclining child safety seat of claim 4 wherein the sprocketdrive means comprises a drive belt and pulley system linking the atleast one motor with the at least one sprocket.
 8. The motorizedreclining child safety seat of claim 3 wherein the reversible drivemeans comprises at least one double-action winch connected by a winchdrive shaft to the at least one motor and a high friction cord meanshaving two ends, the cord means capable of being wound at least oncearound the winch and having one end of the cord means attached to a pinon the safety seat spaced apart from the winch in one direction and theother end of the cord means attached to a pin on the safety seat spacedapart from the winch in an opposite direction, so that having the atleast one motor turn the at least one winch in one direction pulls oneof the pins toward the winch, moving the safety seat in one direction,and having the at least one motor turn the at least one winch in theopposite direction pulls the other one of the pins toward the winchmoving the safety seat in an opposite direction.
 9. The motorizedreclining child safety seat of claim 8 wherein the locking means forsecuring the seat in a desired stationary position comprises a solenoidin the base positioned opposite a series of holes in the safety seat,the solenoid being capable of receding during operation of the motor topermit movement of the safety seat and being capable of protruding intoone of the series of holes in the safety seat to lock the safety seat inplace when the motor is not in operation.
 10. The motorized recliningchild safety seat of claim 3 wherein the reversible drive meanscomprises a motor housed within the base and connected to one of theshells by a pivot means and the motor drives a driving arm connected tothe other of the shells by a pivot means to pivot the safety seatreversibly between a reclined position and an upright sitting position.11. The motorized reclining child safety seat of claim 10 wherein thedriving arm comprises a telescoping hydraulic drive arm.
 12. Themotorized reclining child safety seat of claim 10 wherein the drivingarm comprises a reversible screw drive and movable arm threaded to thescrew drive.
 13. The motorized reclining child safety seat of claim 1wherein the means for interconnecting the child safety seat and the basecomprises a mating arched track and arched ridge configured to rotatethe safety seat so that the back of the seat maintains close proximitywith the vehicle seat back in all positions of the safety seat.
 14. Themotorized reclining child safety seat of claim 1 wherein the safety seatfurther comprises a series of transverse elongated elements eachelongated element independently pivotable relative to an adjacentelongated element, and the means for interconnecting the child safetyseat and the base comprises the elongated elements of the safety seatriding in an arched groove on each side of the base so that the safetyseat is capable of moving forward as it reclines to maintain the safetyseat in proximity with the vehicle seat back in all positions of thesafety seat.
 15. The motorized reclining child safety seat of claim 1wherein the means for interconnecting the child safety seat and the basecomprises a seat pivot point on each side of the safety seat and ahigher base pivot point on each side of the base with a pendulum armhanging by a pivot means from the base pivot point and pivotallyconnected to the safety seat pivot point, so that the safety seat movesforward as it pivots to the reclining position, maintaining closeproximity with the vehicle seat back.
 16. The motorized reclining childsafety seat of claim 1 wherein the means for interconnecting the childsafety seat and the base comprises a seat pivot point on each side ofthe seat and a mating base pivot point on each side of the base whereinthe base maintains contact with the vehicle seat back and the safetyseat is configured so that the back of the seat maintains closeproximity with an arched rear wall of the base for all positions. 17.The motorized reclining child safety seat of claim 1 wherein the meansfor interconnecting the child safety seat and the base comprises a seatpivot point on each side of the seat and a mating base pivot point oneach side of the base wherein a spring-loaded arm and roller from theback of the seat maintains contact with the vehicle seat back.
 18. Themotorized reclining child safety seat of claim 3 wherein the remotecontrol means for the at least one motor is a remote control wired tothe at least one motor.
 19. The motorized reclining child safety seat ofclaim 18 wherein the remote control means is a wireless remote controlwhich transmits wireless signals to control the at least one motor. 20.The motorized reclining child safety seat of claim 2 further comprisinga low friction contact means between the safety seat and base shells.